Method of and machine for handling heels



1 s t ,l e s v ,u n 2% um i ws W H8 .Z m ,l //M/ I r 1 1 m0 mm R. mmL.HC www Fmm Am D O m E M n. y 2 9 ,1 A www m .n w

Dec. 4 1923.

F. V. HART METHOD oF AND MACHINE FOR HANDLING HEELS s sheets-sheet 2 8Sheets-Sheet 5 F. V. HART Filed D66.

Y I, *j ln/venan',

METHOD OF AND MACHlNE FOR HANDLING HEELS Dec. 4 1923.

F. V. HART METHOD oF AND MACHINE FOR HANDLING NEEDS E7/venin 8Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec( F. V. HART METHOD 0F AND MACHINE FOR HANDLINGHEELS Filed Deo. 31 1920 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zweizo'n' F. V. HART METHOD OFAND MACHINE FOR HANDLING HEELS .Y Filed Dec. 51, 1920 8 Sheets-Sheet 6Jn/'@2130 .f @Zd/fw lgll f Mrz/653.'

Dec. 4 1923. Q d 1,475,948

F. V. HT

mamon oF AND NACHNE PQR HANDLING HzzLs Filea Dea. 1920 8 Sheets-SheetDec. 4 1923. 1,475,948

F. v. HART METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR HANDLING HEELS v Filed Dec. s1,1920 8 sheets-smet 8 l ma@ Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

FRED V. HART, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TOY

UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, ACOR-PORATION OF NEW' JERSEY.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR HANDLING HEELS.

Application filed December 3l, 1920. Serial No. 434,237'.

To all whom it may conce/rn:

Be it known that I, FRED V. HART, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and lState of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and cMachines for Handling Heels and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to. which it appertains to make and usethe same.

The present invention relates to methods of handling or assemblingheels, or the like` and to apparatus for practicing the same, and it hasspecial reference to the pressing of freshly pasted heels during thesetting of the paste, although in many of its aspects, it is not sorestricted, but may be applicable to other pieces or articles of shoestock and for other purposes.

In applicants co-pending application, Serial No. 314, 219, filed July30, 1919, and assigned to the United Shoe Machinery Corporation, is setforth a so-called tube-type heel press comprising a long tube-likestructure consisting of close fitting inwardlypressed longitudinalmembers or walls between which freshly pasted heels are made to progressin column formation, the walls -frictionally resisting the passage oflthe heels so that the component liftsare held firmly together underpressure during the drying or setting of the paste. Such presses haveheretofore been constructed in the form cupy a minimum amount offloorspace when installed in a factory, and which shall .also be soconstructed and arranged that the heels are maintained under pressurefor a suiicient period of .time to insure the .proper drying of thepaste.v

lVith this ob ect in view, one feature of the invention contemplates theconstruction of a tubetype heel ypress in a plurality of compactlyarranged, separated sectionsor units of short extent that are adapted tobe successively moved into a loading posi-v tion at which the heels areintroduced into the press tubes.

In the co-pending application above referred to, a device is .providedfor automatic-v ally loading the single tube-like press with wedge heelswhich, although presented in similar positions to the loadingv device,are delivered to the press tube, in repeated vseries of four heels each,in predetermined dissimilar positions in accordancewith a method ofstacking wedge heels illustrated, described and claimed in a co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 258,722, filed October 18, 1918, by John B.Hadaway and assigned to the United Sho-e Machinery Corporation. Thepractice of this Hadaway method of stacking heels not only permits, butmakes commerciallyfeasible, the pressing of heels of wedge form in atube-type press, inasmuch asthe heels of each series are arranged i insuch dissimilar position that the heels are stacked in a straight rowwith their adjacent faces in full engagement over their entire area.Therefore, the endwise pressures applied to the column of heels in thepress tube are distributed evenly over substantially the entire area ofevery heel face so thatv the individual heels, and also the componentlifts thereof, are evenly and uniformly pressed.

With 4this in mind, another .object of the present invention is todevise a simple way of utilizing, and hence securingthe benefits of, theHadaway method of stacking wedge heels in connection with a compact-lyarranged multiple tube heel press, while subjecting all heels to thesame operating conditions and therefore securing a .uniform product.

Accordingly, another feature of the in-v vention resides in a method ofhandling,as sembling or pressing heelswhich comprises arranging theheels in repeated `like series, `ineach ofv which the heels are arrangedin predetermined relation, and inconsecutively distributing the heels soarranged in regular ,order and one at atimein stacked relation in theseveral press tubes of the heeljpress, Y

invention is to provide a multiple tube heel press, of the characterhereinbefore mentioned, with an automatic loading or positioningdevice,such as already ,referred to, which shall cooperate in such timerelation with respect to the several tube presses, that applicants aboveindicated method may be practiced with facility and a uniform quality ofproduct be assured.

" Accordingly, another vfeature of the invention contemplates a rotaryloading or positioning device having` four heel adjusting clamps forarrangingfthe heels in repeated like series offourdissimilarlyposiftionedheels each, and a multiple'tube heel press comprisinga rotarysupport carrying lfive presstubes, or one more than any 'inultiple ofthe vheels-in a series. The position- Y ing device and the-press tubesvare-mechanically connected to rotate concurrently in steps,respectively of one-quarter and one- 'lifth of a revolution, after eachheel is delivered to a press tube, whereby the desired Vends areattained.

'Other objects 0f the invention are to `provide limprovements in,tube-type presses, to

provide Imeans, adapted particularly for multiple tube presses carriedby a rotary support, for controllingthe discharge of the heels from therespective-press tubes, and to provide improved mechanism for receiving'the heels delivered by the 1heel press and transferring them indefinitepositions to a position of deposit.

To the accomplishment of theobjects hercinbefore mentioned, and suchothers as may hereafter appear, as will be apparent to those skilled inthe art, the invention .coniprises .the novel features, arrangements andcombinations of parts `hereinafter described, and then ,particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

vVhile, for illustrative purposes, the .invention has been, and willhereinafter be set forthas specifically applied to the handling' andpressing' of heels, .it should be understood that certain features ofthe invention are equally applicable to shoe stock of differentcharacteristics and forms and, moreover, may be utilized to advantagefor various other purposes. Therefore, only such limitations should lbeimposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

The features ofthe invention will be readily V.understood from theaccompanying drawings, illustrating the invention .in its preferredform, and from the following detailed ,description of v,the constructionshown therein.

ln the drawings JFigure .l is a view, inside elevation, of a machineconstructed in accordance with y.the present invention, the

central portion of the machinebeing broken away; Fig'. 2 is a view, inend elevation and on enlarged scale, ofthe machine looking" still'further enlarged scale; Fig'. 7 isa view in side elevation, partly insection, of a portion of the niechanisniat the 'delivery end of themachine; Fig. Sis a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, ofa portionkof the mechanism shown in Fig. 7, the section being' takensubstantially on the line '8 8 of said figure;`Fig. 9 is a top plan viewof the delivery platform anda portion of the transfer mechanism; Fig'.1G is` a sectional view taken substantially on the line lO-10 of Fig. 7;Fig'. 1l is a detail view in side elevation of ythe delivery end of oneof the tube-like sections of the press, said section being,` shown inunloading position; Fig. l12 is a sectional view taken on the line12-'12 of filip'. llgfligs. '13, li'and 15 are detail views,in plan andfront and side elevations, respectively, of tlieheel clamps employed inboth the loading' and unloading' mechanisms; Fig. `16 is a detail view,in side elevation, yof four heels arranged in the positions in whichthey are successively presented `by the operator to the loading'mechanism Vof the machine; and Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic Viewillustrating' -the method of stacking heels which constitutes one of thefeatures ofthe present invention. y

Asshown in lf 1, the invention comprises, in lgeneral, a multiple-.unitheel press 20 consisting' of a plurality of horizontal tube-like pressesor receptacles 22, which ure supported in parallel relation, equidistantfrom each other and from acommon horizontal axis about which the pressesare rotated step-by-step to 'bring' their receiving;V ends successivelyinto heel-receiving' position at a loading: station 24: aheel-positioninej and ,loadinsij mechanism 2G, which rcceives uniform .ipositioned, freshly pasted heels. deli ers them successively inrepeated- .series of predetermined dissimilar positions lili) dischargedtherefrom lat anunloading station`30, restores the heels to uniformpositions and delivers them, thus vuniformly positioned, to a suitablereceiver such 4as the platform 32st a'transfer -station 34; and transfermechanism 86 which removes the heels individually from the platform 32,uniformly changes their positions and'dcposits them successivelyinsimilar positions upon a conveyer 38 by means of which they may becarried to a heel compressor.

The entire mechanism is mounted upon a base 40, from one end of whichrises a yokeshaped support 42 upon which the loading mechanism 26 ismounted. Two standards 44 and 46 are secured to the opposite end of thebase 40 and serve to support the unloading mechanism 28 and the transfermechani'sm 86. rlhe heel press 20 is located between the loadingmechanism 26 andthe unloading mechanism 28 and extends horizon- Y tallyabove the base 40, its several tube-like presses or receptacles 22 beingcarried upon a rotatable support comprisingr a plurality of supportingdevices or spiders 48 which are mounted uponV a horizontal shaftl 50.The shaft 50 is journaled at one end in a suitable bearing formed in aplate 52 that is secured to the front of the standard 42 and itsopposite endV in a bearing' formed in a plate 54 that is secured tothe'support 44. The sh aft 50 is driven intermittently through suitableconnections with the loading' mechanism 26` to be hereinafter described,so as to bring the heel-press units 22'successively into heel receivingrposition.

The heel press units or receptacles 22 which constitute the heel press20, and which are live in number, are adapted to engage the lateraledges of a column of freshly pasted heels and frictionally resist theirpassage as they are forced therethrough, so that the component lifts ofthe heels Will be firmly held together during the drying` or setting ofthe paste. To this end each press 22 is, in `general, similar to thesingle tube-like heel press described in applicants above mentionedapplication, the presses severally con- Sistinar of box-like tubes eachhaving four inwardly and yieldingly pressed side members. ln the presentconstruction, however. each side member of each of the live heel pressesis pressed inwardly independently of the other side members. l

Each of the heel press units 22 comprises four relatively .movable sidemembers or walls 58, 6th 62 and 64 (Fig. 3) ivhiclrare mounted in thesupporting` devices or spiders 48. The side walls are arranged in pairs,the inner faces of each pair beingv oppositely disposed with respect to'one another and being disposed substantially Vat right angles withrelation to the inner faces of the other pair. Each ofthe supporting;`devices 48, in Which the heel presses or receptacles 22 are fie mounted,comprisesl a pair of disk-like spiders 68 and 7() (Figs. l, 3 and6)vvhich are arranged close to eachother as shown in VFig. l and arerigidlysecuied to the shaft 50. The supporting spiders 68 yand 70 areprovided with registering apertures 7 2 (Fig.

press units or individual presses 22 are veach carried by a plurality ofsupporting arms 74 which are pivotallyv mounted between the severalpairs of spiders 68 and 70 to permit adjustment of the oppositelydisposed side members of each press toward and from each other for thepurpose of varying the size of the presses to accommodate heels ofdifferent sizes. As shown in Figs. 3 and 6, each arm 74 is mounted toturn freely upon one of a plurality of short horizontal shafts 76 Whichare disposed in coaxial relation and are journaled in bearings in theseveral pairs of spiders. The side members or Walls 60 which are opposedto the side Walls 58 are carried by a plurality ofY arms 7 8'Which aresimilar to the arms 74 and are mounted toV turn on the shafts 76 besidethe arms 74; The side Walls 62 of each heel press unit are supported bya series of arms 80 which are pivotally mounted between each pair ofspiders-68 and 70. The arms 80Which support four of the press unitsare-severally mounted to turn upon' short horizontal shafts 82, theseshafts being severally secured at one end to the supporting; spiders 70.)The arms- 8O supporting the fifth press unit are secured to a singlehorizontal shaft 83 which extends substantially throughout the length oftheheel press and is j ournaled in bearings in each of the several setsof Vspiders 68 and 70. The side Walls 64'Which are opposed to the sideWalls 62 are supported by aseries of arms 84 that are severallysecuredto the` short shafts 76 adjacent the outer sides ofthespidersi'O. i

The manner in which the'four side Walls of each heel press are attachedto their respectivc series of supporting arms is identical andconsequently it will be necessary to describe in detail the mounting ofonly one side Wall to one of its supporting arms. As shovvn in Fig. 3,the side ,Wall 58 ispivotally and yieldingly mounted upon its supportingarm 74. `To this end, the lsupporting` arm 74 l is forked at its outerend, as indicated at 88,

to straddle a bolt 90 Whichextends through the side Wall perpendiculartoits working face and is" fixed thereto'. rlhe bolt -90 projectsoutwardly from the side Wall and extends transversely through a stud 92which is mounted to turn-l freely in .theforlredend v of thesupporting,` arm. kThe free end of the b`olt'90'1s screw-threaded Vtoreceive a nut 94 and alock-nut v96 which retain the bolt inV -ceived acoiled spring,` 102 which surrounds the Abolt 90 between` the base ofthe recess 100 andthe stud 92. Suitable washers 104 are provided at theoppositeends of the spring` 102 to take the thrust of the spring.

To accommodate different sizes ofr heels in the individual heel' presses22, the oppositely disposed members of each pair of side walls areadjustable toward and from each other. The opposed side walls 58 and 6Uof each of the tive heell press units are adjusted concurrently, as arealso the yopfposed side walls 62 and64. The means for adjusting the sidewalls` 58 and 60 concurrently will now be described.` The arms 74 upon`which the side walls 58 are' supported are extended inwardly beyond thepivot studs 76,` as Vindicated at 108 in Figs. Sr and `6. The roundedfree ends of the extensions 108 ofthe series of arms 74 between eachpair of supportingspiders 68 and` 7 0A are refceived in` a plurality ofnotches- 110 which are equally spaced apart inthe periphery ot' anvadjusting disk 112 which ismounted towturn freely on the shaft betweensaid siaiders. The arms 78 which support the side walls 60 are similarlyextended y inwardly beyond the pivot studs 76, as indiat-ed at 114.r1`he rounded free extremities of the'extensions 114 project intoperipheral notches 116 which are formed in an adjusting. disk- 118which. is mounted to turn on the shaft 50 alongside of the disk 112.rThere is one pair of disks 112 and 118 for adjusting` each ofV saidseries of supporting arms.

For the purpose ofturning the adjustingdisks 1.121 to adjust the sidewalls 58 inwardly or outwardly, one of the supporting arms 74 of theseries between each pair of supportingspiders 68 andv 70 is providedwith an outward extension 120 of one of its forked ends 88. Theextensions 12() of the arms 74 are severally connected by means of links122with a series of arms 124 which are secured to a shaft 128. Theshaft128 ext-ends substantially throughout )the length of the heel pressand is journaled in bearings in eachv pair of supporting spiders 68 andYv and the arms 124 are secured-'to the shaft 128V between said bearings.nE a like manner, one of the supporting arms 78 of the series betweeneach pair of supporting,` spiders 68` and 70 is providedl with anoutward extension 130 of one of its forked ends;

` The extensions 130 are connected-by means of. links 132 with an arm134projecting inwardly from the shaft 128.

Leraars y For the. pur-- pose of turning the shaft 128 to actuate thearms 74 and 78, a wormwheel 136 in secured tothe shaft 128 adjacenttheouter sideof the spider 70 which is rnearest the loading end of thepress. Intermeshing with the Vworm wheel 186 is a worm 138 secured to ashort radial shaft 140 whichr is journaledy inV bearings upon saidsupporting spider 70.

The outer end of the shaft 1.40V is squared,

as indicated at 142, to receive an. adjusting` Ywrench by means ofwhich' the worm'may'be turnedto effect the required adjustmenttherein.By meansof theabove described construction, it will be seen that-as theworm 138Y is turned to rotate. the shaft 128, the

Aseveral arms 74 which are connected with the shaft 128 through thelinks 122 and the arms 124 will be swun` in one direction,

while thev several arms '8 which are connectedwith the shaft .128through the links and 7 8 which are operatively connected with saiddisks will swing,` concurrently and proportionately with they firstmentioned arms; As a result, the opposed side walls 58 and 6) of allfive heel press units 22 willV be adjusted ccncurrently andproportionately toward or from each other, f

The side walls 62 and 64 of the five heel 2guides are also concurrentlyadjusted by means of the following devices.. The arms 80 upon which theside walls 62 arev mountj ed are provided with extensions'146'which areso disposed with respect tothe arms 80 that said arms, together with theextensions, constitute bell crank levers. rlhe inner ends of theextensions 146 of the series-of arms 80 which are located between a pairof spiders 68' and 70 are equally spaced apart in' peripheral notches'148 in an adjustingdisk 150 which is incuntedto turn freely on theshaft 50'.v @ne of these disks is located adjacent the. outer side cfeach spider v70 and is confined? between ahub on the spider and a collar152 which ispinned to the shaft 50. Each adjusting,` disk 150 isprovided also witha set of slots 154 (Fig. 3) which are equidistant fromeach other and from the shaft 50; The slots 154 are entered by Studs 156projecting' laterally from extensions 158 of one of the forked ends ofeach supporting arm which supports the side walls 64. The disks Y150 arerotated by one of the extensions 146 of the series located between eachpair of spiders to eect the adjustment ofthe side walls 62 and 64. Tothis end, a. worm wheel 160 is secured to the guideway Lll) other.

end oi the shaft 83 at the loading end of the press. cooperativelyengaged by the teeth oi the worm gear 162, said worm being fast upon ashort radial shaft 164 which is journaled in bearings 166on the outerside of the spider 68 which is nearest the loading` mechanism. The outerend of the shaft 164 is squared, as indicated at168, to receive a wrenchor crank by means loi which it may be turned. As the shaft 83 is turnedby the above described worm gearing, the extensions 146 oi the arms 8Oupon said shaft are swung to rotate the series 01' disks 150 in onedirection or the other. As the disks 150 are thus rotated, all the restoi' the arms 8O are swung concurrentlyKA and proportionally, with theparticular set of said arms just reif'erred to, thus causing all livesets of side walls 62 and 64 to be adjusted concurrently andproportionately toward or from each other. lt will'be seen that by meansof the devices above described for effecting the adjustment of theopposed sidewalls of the heel presses, the side vwalls will be securelyheld in their adjusted positions.V i j The adj acent side walls of eachheel guide are at all times maintained with their inner iacesperpendicular to each lother by means oi' two sets of angle rods 172 and174 having arms disposed `at right angles to each The angle rods v172are disposed at intervals throughout the length of the side walls 58 and64. @ne arm of each angle rod is adapted to slide longitudinally in awhich extends transversely through the side wall 58 from one narrowlongitudinal edge thereof to thel other, while the other arm of eachangle rod is adapted to slide in a guideway similarly formed in the sidewall 64. The angle rods 174 are arranged with respect to the side walls60 and 62 in the same manner asv that in which the set of angle rods 172are arranged with respect to the side walls 58 and64. As the side walls58 and 60 are adjusted toward or from each othen'one larm of eachvollthe rods 172 and 174 will slide inwardlyor outwardly within theguideways in the side walls 62 and 64 and the side walls 62 and 64 areadjusted toward and from each other, `the other arms ot each oi theangle rods 172 and rllhe teeth ot the worm wheel 160 are the heelssuccessively in dissimilar positions into the tubes or sections oftheheel press. With the exception of the improved conf struction oftheclamps in which the heels are held,'the construction and mode of op-Aeration of the loading mechanism 26 is vthe same as that disclosed' inapplicants hereinbeiore mentioned co-pending application, Serial No.314,219.

spaced 96 apart upon the carrier. The car-V f rier disk 180 is rotatedstep-by-step through,

quarter revolutions to bring the heel clamps Therefore, only a brief andgeneral description of the common fea- 184 successively into position toreceive a.

heel at a receiving station 186, by means of suitable mechanism (notshown) which is adapted tobe connected .with a main driving shaft 188.The heel lclamps 184 are so arranged on the carrier disk 180 and cer-.L

tain of them are so actuated relatively to the carrier disk during therotation of the lat` ter that the heels are successively presented tothe heel press 20" at the loading station 24 in position to be loadedinto the press in accordance with the method of advantageously stackingwedge heels described in the above-mentioned Hadaway application, SerialNo. 258,722.

As set forth in'said Hadaway application,

the method of stacking heels `contemplates the arrangement of the heelsso that the top lift face of each heel is opposed to and covered by thetop lift face of the next, and

the larger base face o'teach heel is opposed to and` covered by the'adjacent large basey face of the next heel, base to base contactingheels being turned 180 to bring about this result.v 1n stacking heels inaccordance with this method, the heels are successively positioned at a4loading station] adjacent the receiving end of the press, in thepositions indicated at A, B, C and D, respectively, in Fig. 16, andi-theheels are, introduced sepa rately, as thus positioned, into the press inthe order in which they are lettered in said figure. -l/Vhen stacked,the heels, are ar-V ranged in repeated series, each consistingof `tourheels assembled in the relative positions indicated in Fig. 16. f

In order that this method 'of stacking heels may be utilized inconnection with av multiple tube heel press so that all .the heels.

will be subjected tothe same operating con? ditions, the presentinvention contemplates the provision in the press of a number ofindividual press tubes or sections which is one projecting upwardlyromthe sleeves 202.v

i`he lower ends ci the bolts 206 engage the direction to move the idlersprocket Wheels.

19S toward one side or the other oi' the machine, and thus cause therequired amount of rotation ot the heel press independently of thecarrier disk 180 which is necessaryV to canse the heel guides tobe'properlj7 positioned at the loading station 24. T he ad'- justingbolts 208 are provided with nuts 210 which .may be tightened against theupper faces ot the lugs 208 vto bind the bolts in adjusted position. y

As already stated, the heel clamps 18st of the loadingmechanism 26differ from those disclosed in applicant-s co-pending application. andare illustrated in detail in Figs. 18, 1d and 15.V The improved clamps,in common with the clamps disclosed in said application, are arranged topermit the heels to be inserted therein, top litt face foremost, vmovement at right angles to the plane orp the carrier dislr 180, and topermit the removal of the heel by aurther movement in the same directionas they were introduced. in accordance with the present construction,however, the improved clamps are especially designed to firmly hold theheels during the rotation of the carrier disk 180.

To this end, as shown in the aforesaid fig# ures, each heel clamp 184icomprises a pair ot opposed grppers 214 which are constructed andarranged to conform to the opposite lateral edges ot the heelsthroughout a substantial portion oi' the lheight and length of the heel.To permit the grippers 214to readily adjust themselves to the heels 'asthe latter are introduced between them,

the grippers are severally secured to a pair ot opposed supporting armsV216 consisting ot blade-like membersy eachV of which is pivoted at itsinner extremity to a plate217 that is riveted to the opposed webs ofpair ot' angle iron supports 218 so that the supporting arms 216 will becapable ot swinging toward and from each other. Throughout a greaterportion of their length the supporting arms 215 are rtwisted out oi theplane ot' their Ahinged extremities so as toV contorni tothe contourot'the outer 'faces ot the gripper-s 214i and to position the grippers sothat they will properly engage the lateral edges of the heel. The angleiron supports 218 are ar 1ang'ed with one web of each support located inthe same 'piane and extending toward the corresponding web of the othersupport and these webs are adjnstably clamped between a. plate 220 and aclamp support 222 by means of a pair oi screws 22A which extend throughthe platel 22() and also serveto secure the plate to the support.` lTheplate 220 and the clamp support are the saine as corresponding parteshown in the machine oi said co-pendi ing .applicationj Serial No.v314,219. gripper supporting arms 216 are yieldingly pressed toward oneanother bymeans `of ga pair of springs '228 to cause the grippers 214ito firmly grip the heel. rEhe springs 228 are severally coiled about azpair of supporting bolts 230 which extend outwardly through the opposedwebs of the angle iron supports `218 and through the inner ends of thesul porting arms 216, each spring beingconiined between said arms and anutv upon the outer Yend of the respective bolts 230; gripper-supportingarms 216 under the influence or" Athe springs 228 isqliinited by theengagement of the arms with the heads of the rivets which secure theplates 2lito the angle ironY supports 218 The nuts 232 may be adjustedon .the bolts 280 to vary the'tension ot' the spring 228 vand the nutsare held in adjusted position by means ot lock-nuts 234. t willbe seenthat by virtue of the provision for yieldingly pressing the supportingarmsV 216 toward each other, the grippers 214:` are permitted to readilyadjust themselves tothe contourvo the 'lateral edges of the heels, andare caused to securely hold the heels while they are being transsectionand into the`path of the heels as they are loaded therein. Asshown, theside walls are made somewhat shorter than the side walls'62 and 64 topermit the clamping jaws 'to be thus arranged-without projecting beyondthe receiving end of the heel press section. Y The clamping jaws 240 arecarri'edat the tree ends of a pair of clamp The is'v

The inward movement ot the" arms 242, the opposite endsfof which are Ito their top lift faces by means of opposed able upon the' shaft 182.

edges e on the clamping` jaws 240, these edges being formed at thejunction Vof two Vinclined faces 256 and 258 that are formed at theinnerv ends of each clamping jaw.

'By means of the inclined faces 256 the clamping aws 240 are readilyspread apart by each heel Vas it is discharged from the heel clamp ofthe vcarrier disk 180 at the loading station 24 to permit the heel toenter the heel press section. The clamping javvs 240 are particularlyuseful for retaining in the press tubes 'those heels which are loadedtherein in the .position of the lheel which is indicated at 260in Fig.et. i

After theV automatic loading device 26 has been in operation lone enoughto fill the press tri-.bes of the heel press. a single several l heel isforced out or discharged from the delivery end of the uppermost press 22each time i, fresh heel is introduced at the receiving end thereof bythe loadingplunger 196 of the loading` device. As the heels are thusdischarged from the delivery ends of the presses, they are delivered tothe unloading device 28 whereby Vthe variously positioned Yheels arerestored to uniform or similar positions and delivered to the platform'32, rlhe unloading `device 28 is provided With four heel clamps whichare of the improved construction hereinbefore described in connectionwith the loading` device 26. VWiith the exception of these heel clamps,the un-i loading device 28 is substantially the same in construction andmode of operation as the corresponding mechanism disclosed in applicantsapplication, Serial No. 314,219, and therefore need not be hereindescribed in detail. Briefly, however, the unloading mechanism 2,8comprisesacarrier disk 262 (Figs, 1 and 7). which is similar to thecarrier disk/180 of the loading mechanism26 and is secured to a-sleeve264 that is rotat- .p The unloading .-.arrier 'disk 262 is provided withfour heel clamps 266 which are thesame in constructionas those alreadydescribed in connection with the loading mechanism 26. By thev rotationLof theA carrier dislij 26d, the clamps vare successively brought intoposition to receive the dissimilarly positioned heels aslthey emergefrom the heelpresses, and. are actuated to restore, these variouslypositioned heels `to uniform or similar positions, and to bring them torest at a point opposite the-transfer station 3d. The heels aredischarged from the clamps 266 of the carrier disk 262 ofthe unloadingdevice and delivered upon the platform 32 by means of a horizontallyreciprocating plunger 268, which operates in unison WithV the loadingplunger 190 in the same manner as in applicants co-pending applicationalready referred to. y

As explained in applicants hereinbefore mentioned co-pendingapplication,V the length of the column of heels'in a press tube mayvary, from timeto time, on account-of the fact that diiferences in thecharacter of the continually changing individual heels in the column maycause some heels to compress into smaller space than others, under therepeated pressureJ impulses of the load-r ing` plunger. As a result, itis possible that the heel at the forward end of the column may not beadvanced clear of the delivery end of the press tube each time a freshheel is loaded into the receiving end of the tube.

ln such a case, While the rear portion of the.

end heel still remains Within the press tube,

the forward portion of said heel will project disconnected from theshaft 182 upon which y it is mounted and is arranged to be connectedtherewith by meansv of a clutch 2U), (Fig. 1) 'the operationr of whichis controlled `by the feeding` movements of the heel at the delivery endof the heelV press. This is accomplished by the employment of mechanismwhich is substantially the same as that employed for the same purpose?in the ma chine of applicants above mentioned` application. Thismechanism, therefore, Will not be described in detail herein, inasmuchVas reference may be had to said applicationk for complete description.ifd'esired.v y llriefly, however, 'in .common with the machine of theapplication justreferred to, the sleeve 261i- (lfiggsfl and 7) uponwhich the unloading): carrier 262 is'mounted, is journaled in hearing`slecyes l242 and 274, on opposite sides of the carrier, -the sleeves 272and 271ibeinp; splincd in tguideways formed respectivey in the etantarde 44e and 46. This construction permitslateral slidinginovements ofthe carrer-262 toward and from the heel press. "Ehe unloadingcarrier 262is moved bodily avvay from the press by the advance of each heel as itis fed between the jawsy of the respective heel clamp on said carrier,and into engagement with an abutment 276 7) which is mounted. to slideWith said carrier. The sliding' movement of the carrier `262 operatesthe clutch 270 to connect the unload- Y ing` carrier with the shaft 182so that said carrier Will be rotated in unison Withl the loading carrier180 when the next movement of the latter occurs; At the start of fromthe tube each time'a fresh heel-is llt) ico V no l' the' rotation of theunloading carrier, 262, 'i

ywhich it was laterallymoved by the last feed movement of the-heels inthe heel 1 press, by means of `mechanism controlled I oit' the severalpress tubes 22.

bya cani 278, Vall asset A:torthin applicantsv co-pending application.

As vfurther set'forth insaid application, the-lieels'in the' press areliable to adhere to each other moreor less on. account of the accidentallpresence.. of paste on 'the tread or base `faces of theheels or'on thesides of the'press. Accordingly order to insure that the heel which is'delivered to the unloading carrier shall be readily separated irom'thecolumn of heels 'in the presstube, without the possibility of laterallydisplacing the adjacent heel, the following improved `means,particularly adapted for the .multifpress structure of the present Ina-V chine, is provided Jfor laterally supporting` the projectingportion of the heel neXt behind the end heel in the stack in each presstube, after the end heel has kbeen pushed beyondthe end of the presstu-be.l

This improyedrme'ans comprises a plurality of pairs' of at plates 282`(Figs. 7,V

adapted to slide in guideways 302 which flangedv ends 804 of the lll and12) which are associated with the delivery ends of the side walls58 and60 These platesA 282 are vsimilar in their general mode of operationtothe corresponding plates of aps plican'ts hereinbeforev mentionedapplica- `tionA` but' are modified in the present .con' struction asfound necessary to adapt them for use in a multiple tube heel press. Asshown, the plates 282 are carried by and are movable with therotatablesupport for the. heelpress and serve to extend the side walls each presstube toward the unloadingf 4 carrier as soon as the end heel engages theabutment 276 and begins to move the 'carrier'` laterally away from theheel press. Each pair' o1- plates 282 is arranged with its individualmembers extending in Vparallel relation on 4opposite sides of the sidewall 64 of the. respective press tube, each plate pro `jecting`outwardly from one of a series of supports 284 which are arrangedequidistant from each other and from the shaft 50 and are'slid'ablymounted upon aV carrier 286 which isf secured to said shaft. Thesidewalls and 60ct the press tubes are cnt away at the delivery endofthe press to permit the plates 282 to be arranged with their opposedfaces-Hush with the in-v ner faces of said Walls. l*

To permit the plates 282 to move later`l ally toward and-from each otheraslthe side walls of the heel( guide aremoved inwardly or outwardly,these 'plates' are mountedto i slide upon the oppositeVv ends of apairof i parallel guide rods 294 which vextend ina direction normal to'the klength .of heel l guides, and the central portions of'which .are

support :284. In order that the lopposed membersof each! pair ofplates282shall .secured to an ear` 296 projecting romthe 'iof' 4'beconstrained to move'laterally withfthe side walls 58 and 60, eachplate-282 is profA Vvided with yan outwardly turned earY 288 icent'sidev wall and carries va projecting lwhicheXtends across the.vendv of the 'adja-f Y,

290 wliichis Vslidablyy received in 'a socket- 292 that is bored.longitudinally into. said sidewall'from the end .thereofff'lhisY con-- istruction also permits the Iplates 282 to move ports 284'are causedtoslidelongitudinally with respect to the carlrier`286- lTojper'- mit suchsliding movement,each support 284 j is provided with a pair ofend lugs298;

through which extend a pairfof parallelr horizontal rods 800` which are`rigidly yse-, cured thereto.. Adjacent their vopposite ends, the rods800 extend through and are l are `formed in the carrier 286.

Normallyv each pair o ffplates282 isheld vretracted, in the positionsinfwhich they f appear in Figure 11,'by means of apair of? coiledsprings 306 which severally surround",V

the rods 300, the` springs being interposed i between the inner face of-oneof'the flanged ends 304 of the carrier 286, and a shoulder ies 308onV the Support 284'. The supports 284 :are caused to slide relativelyto the carrier 286 to advance Vthe plates 282 edgewise toward theunloading carrier for'the purpose of lextending the side walls oftherpressV "i Vtubes by vmeans of an'actuatorcsleeve 31D".

whichfis adapted torslide on the shaft 50, f

adjacent one. end ofthe carrier 286. The

actuator sleeve 310 is provided with an up-l wardly projecting lug 812that is adapted to engage Vdepending lugsf3l4 on the several Vsupports284, as therespective heel guide's'aref@ 1 f' brought into position forlthe delivery offa means of a rod 816,y Voneend of whichi's heel to theunloadingV carrier 262. Move ment of the actuatorsleeve 810 is effectedby f rigidly secured to a lug 318jproject'ing latferffV ally from theacutator sleeve 810 and which Y connects said sleeve, with a movablebracketing sleeve 274 of the unloading carrier 2621n tubes lis'br'oughtto rest infinosition to receive f 320. This bracket 320 is secured tothe bear-I i Y and moves laterallyv toward and from the heel press`thei'ewith.V y The 'operation of themechanisin justA dej, Vv scribed isas follows: jWhen oneofgthe press- I yedgewise' in the direction of the'length oi L50" afresh heel and discharge a dried heel,.the

" support 284, carrying the plates 282 which,

310 VWill'be actuated through the connections* are associated with `saidpressgtube guide',

Will be positioned with lits lug 314 opposite n the lug 312011 theactuator sleeve 310, as

shown in Fig. 7. When the end heel Y forced out of the heel guide intoengagement Y with the abutment 27 6V and the unloading carrier 262begins to be movedl laterally away from the heel press, the actuatorsleeve abovev describedfto slide the support 284 which is associatedWith the uppermost heel' guide toward the delivery end thereof. Thus,the plates 282 carried thereby are actuatedto extend the sidewalls 58and 60 of said press tube. fn this Way, if theheel next behind the endheel of the stack is projectedbeyond Y Y y the end of the heel guide,the projecting porbe moved edgevvise by the rotation of thev carrier andconsequently the heel which has just been delivered to the carrier WillbeY Y g position to be engaged by the tread face of the heel as theheelleaves the clamp in said -carrier disk. As shown in Fig.l 8, thepresser readily separated from the stack.

As the unloading carrier 262 approaches the completion of its quarterrevolution, the mechanism Which is controlled by .the cam 278 operatesin the manner set forth' in applicants co-pending appli'- cation, torestore theY abutment 276 to its normal position and operate the clutch270 to disconnect the unloading carrier.`

The carrier is then free to slide laterally toward the heel` press. Inthe present conf struction, the unloading carrier 262 is moved laterallytovvard the press by means of a spring 322 (Figs. l and 7) 'the lowerend of which is secured to the base 40 and the upper ,end of Which isconnected to one arm of a bell-crank lever 324 Which is pivoted at 326upon the standard 46, the other 4arm'of. the

lever being connected by a link 328 to the movable bracket 320.'

- 1 VIn common With the corresponding'mechaheels to the uniformVpositions in Which they,

Were initially presented` to theV loading mechanism 26. YThis positionof the heels is indicated by dotted linesv in Fig. 7. As therein shown,the heel isv positioned with `,its breast edge upon the platform32 andlWith its base face directed toward the un loading plunger 268. Y d

After the unloading carrier 262 has been returned to its normal lateralposition, the

. unloading kplunger *268 is actuated, "as ex-v plained in applicantsabovermentioned co4 variously positioned heels lewe pending application,to .eject the heel from" the uppermost heel clamp in the carrier and`deliver vit to the platform'32. v'Asjalso' set forth insaidapplication, the platform 32 isV secured to a member 330 'Whichis, inVturn,

secured to the bearingssle'eve 274, 1so that rthe` platform vvill moveWith the lcarrier 262 Vas Ythe latter' is shifted laterally. To Vinsurethat the heel vvill be depositedupon .thev platform 32 in exactly theposition in Which it is held by the heel clamp immediately before it isejected from theunloading carrier V262, vmeans is provided, inaccordance.ivitlrthe present invention,for maintaining control of theheel during lits transfer from the' unloading carrier to the platform32. j n

lnthe present construction, the means for thus controlling they movementofthe heel, from the unloading carrier 26.2 to the platform 32,3comprises a vertically ydisposed presser plate 336 that is arranged toengage the top-lift face of the' heel and to cooperate with theunloading plunger 268 to laterally support the heel as` the plungerfeeds it across the platform 32. The presser plate 336 is disposed inparallel relation tothe carrier disk 262 and vis normally located inplate 336 is laterally offset from a horizontal tube 338, to one end vofwhich the platevis rigidly secured. A deep notch 337 (Fig. `8) YThehorizontal'tube 338 is urged toward the left (Fig. 7) by means of acoiled spring 342 Which is confined Within the tube-338 and bearingsleeve 340, the opposite ends of the. spring engaging the closed ends ofthe tube and bearing sleeve. The normal position of the presser plate336 is determined by an adjustable bolt 344 Which extends :through a lugdependingdfr'om aportion of the presser plate. The bolt 344 iis adaptedto engagea" 1 stop lug 346 on the platform 32, thelug limiting themovement of the presser plate under the influence ofthe spring342. Bymeans of. this yconstruction the heels are firmly heldbetween theunloading plunger 268 and thev presser plate 336 during their transferfrom the unloading carrier tothe' platform 32, sothat there Will be notendency for the heels to be displacedfrom the posi! tions theyoccupiedVv when brought opposite the unloadingplunger by thel carrier262.V

, `After the heels are delivered to the-plate'V form 32 in the mannerdescribed, thel present inventionmales provision for themtoV betransferred to aheel compressor by means srsv 11ovr of the conveyor 38Which travels towardthe pbserver when viewing Fig. 7 In order thatposited upon the conveyor, it' is desirable that the heels should: restupon their base lifts upon the conveyor. lt is further desirable thatthe heels should be arranged l upon the conveyor vvitli their breastedges earmost, in order that they may be in proper position to be fed tothe heel compressor, the latter .being preferably'of the type disclosedin United StatesfLetters Patent No. l 1,213,052, granted January 16,1917, to Winll'ey, and assigned to the United 'Shoe MachineryCorporation. ,Y v i Accordingly 'one of lthe features of lthe l presentinvention jresides inthe transfer mechanism 36 by means "of Whichrthe'heels are removed'from theplatform 32 and deposited upon the conveyor 38in the requisite positions just described. The transfer mech'- anism V36(Figs. 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10) 4comprises a rotary transfer carrier 350 uponWhich are mounted threefsets of heel gripping devices 352.'A The heelgripping devices 352 are mounted upon threeangularly Vdisposed arms 353which areequi-distant from each other and which are inclined at angle of45o-With respect vto the axis of rotation of the transfer carrier. fercarrier 350 is maintained'stationary With one of its three heel grippingdevices located immediately abovev the platform 3 2 in readiness toreceive a heel,'vvhile another of said gripping devices is locatedimmediately above the conveyor 38, having depositedfits heel upontheconveyor. operation of the machine,.the transfer carrier 350is rotatedstep-loyestep in time vvith the rotary movements Vof the loading andunloading carriers 180V and 262, the transfer Y carrier making one-thirdof a revolution fork 445V each one-quarter Vrevolution of the othercarriers. Each heel gripping device 3 52 of the transfer mechanism36'comp'rises a pair of articulated gripper javvs 354 Which arespring-actuated to grip. the heels andare 'positively actuated toArelease them. Concurrently with each partial rotation of the loading andunloading carriers 'the transfer.- carrier 350 is rotated through 120tobring Y' one setv of heel gripping-devices 352 into position to grip aheel on` the platform and `[then into position to deposit itsr'heel inthe requisite position uponl the conveyor 38. The transfer carrier 350issecured tothe lower end of an inclined shaft 356 which is hub of which,by engagement With the upper end of the bearing 358, sustains the Weightof the transfercarrier v350 and retains the Normally, the trans-VThroughout the journaled in ahearing`358 vat the upper end shaft 356 initsfbearing. The shaft '356 isKV inclined upwardly at an angle of45o-with i clined, transversely of the machine, vat-*an angle of 45 Withrespect 'to a vertical plane extending through the a-Xisof the shaft 50.Y i The three heel gripping devices 352 Y'are identical, andconsequently it Will be l'neces- The gripper javvsf354 are best showninrespect to the platform 32, and it is also insary to describe't'ut oneof them in detail. v

Figsf8 to 10, and are provided 'with sharply pointed ends for Vengagingthe opposite; lateral edges of the heels.

j aWS being journaled in bearings 366 carried and to each projectingendis securedv agear coiled spring 372, the opposite ends offivhichEach' gripper jaw 354 is secured .to-one end of-fa shaft- Y. '364, theshafts 364 for each pair'ofv gripper 801V `by Webs 368 which projectfrom opposite:v sides of the inclined arms 353 of the trans-1JV `fercarrier'350v. The opposite ends ofthe). shafts 364 project l.beyond thebearings 366 are secured to a pair of arms 374 which pvrojectsubstantially at right angles to the seg-5l ments 370 so that eachsegment 370, together `vvith its projecting arm 374, constitutes-abell-crank lever.,` `Each pair of heel gripper jaws 354is normally heldin open'or heel-V receiving position by means `of' a latch 376 YWhichris pivoted at 37 8 upon the respective transfer carrierarm 353,Vthe free end of the latch bein@ notched to provide a pair of 382 forengaging a stud 384 projecting upf 10o f Y' perpendiciilarly .disposedshoulders 380 and Y .l i

Wardl from one of the ad'acent gear se ments 370. ,A spring 386, one endof which is secured to the latch'37 6 and the opposite vjaws 354 touniformly holdv the heels in the.

f Vend to a pin 387 on the adjacent gripper V. device, tends to hold thelatch in operative? positionwith ythe shoulder 380 engaging the stud 384Vin orderV to hold-the gripper jaws 1 position inv'vhi'chVthey.are,presented tothe? transfer mechanismis a positioning finger`388 (Figs-1.7, 8 and'lO) Whicli'isa-ilapted to" engage the tread face ofthe heel: to prevent the heel from turning o'utoffthe positiony in`which lit is' held by the grippermjavvs as the :transfer carrier 350`is 'rotatedg ylhe notch. V337 Whichis provided in thepresser plate -Y336, as hereinbefore. described, lpermitsfthe" finger` 388 to come intocontact with the heel asthe latter ispushed'across the i platformv 32.Each positioning `nger 388 depends from one end of ahollow cylindri thetransfer carrier.

pressed'outwardly in'theirsoclretsj'tomainTk e i 'tain the positioning'fingers 388 `in position' l to be engaged a heel which isfadvancingbetween the gripperjaws, by meansfof a` spring 394 within the hollowstem 390, one end or" .the spring hearing against'the base of the recessin the stein and the opposite end of the spring engaging the base of`@the socket 392. To prevent the stem 396 j the wall of the socket 392.

Vadapted to engage oneend wall of the slot to limit the movement of thepositioning finger Y under the inuence oit the spring.

from turning in its socket, and thus to delir` nitely locate thepositioning finger with respect to the transfer carrier, a pm 396projects from Vthe side ofthe stom 390 into a longitudinal slot 398which is formed in rihe pin 396 is To eect the transfer of the heelsvtrom the Y 'platform 32 to the conveyor' 38,V the transl fer carrier350 isV driven trom the shaft 182.

o l vre c it 356. upon which the T this nl the sha i transfer carrier ismounted,- is connected with an intermediate horizontal shaft 402i bymeans of intermeshing bevel gearing comprising a gear 404 'which issecured to `vone end of the shaft 402* and ythe gear360 which is securedto the upper end oi the transfer carrier shaft 356.' Ther interinediatekshaft 402 is journaled in a hear the upper end of the standard 46 and'iscon* nected with the shait 182 hy means ot a sprocket chain 408 (Figs.`1 and 8) which passesover a sprocket wheel 41.0 on the shaft 402 andover a sprocket wheel at the end of the shaft 182. These sprocket wheelsare so proportioned that each'quarter r turn of the shaft 182 will causethe transi'er carrier 350 to be rotated through onet iird of larevolution.

The arrangement or" the heel gripping devices 352 upon the transfercarrier 350 is such that when the transfer carrier comes to rest, one ofthe gripping devices will be posi- A tioned to receive a heel from theunloading carrier-262 while another ofthe gripping devices is positionedto deposit a heel upon the conveyor 38. VWhen a heel has been advanced,Vby means of the unloading plunger 268, upon theplatforin 32 intoposition to be engaged-.by the first-menticnedk gripping device, theljaws of said gripping device are released toperinit them to grip theheel. At the saine time the jaws ofthe grippingdevice lwhich is holdinga heel above they conveyor 38, are forced-'apart to The means; `for thusactuating the-two pairs or' gripper release the heel held thereby.

jaws operates in unison with the unloading plunger 268 vand comprises ahorizontal slide rod 414 .(Fig. 7) which is mounted in bear- Vings 416at the upper ends the standards 44 and 46. VThe slide rod 414 isconnected with the unloading plunger 268 by means oit an arm 418 (Figs.land 7), the upper end of which isV securedfto the slide `.rod while thelowerV end thereof -issecured to a pin420'- which projects laterallyfrom the unloading plunger and whichris engaged by the inem` berthatactuates the plunger.

To release the jaws of the heel gripping Vdevice which is ready t0receive a. heel at the transfer station 34 so that'said jaws may seizethe heel, a pin 422l depends from aY collar 424 which is adjustablysecured to the slide rod 414 between the bearings 416. The pin 422 isadapted to engage tail 426 V(Fig. 9) extending Y perpendicularly fromthe pivoted end ofl the latchi376 to swing .theY

(F ig. 7) which is confined in afsoclietvin j the upper portion or"thestandard One end ofi" the plunger 430 is adapted to engage a seriesof projections 432, one otwhich is formed upon one of the individualinem-V loers of each pair of gear segments 370.Y

The plunger 430 is so arranged thatwhen one of the gripper devicesislocated in position to 'discharge aheel upon theoonveyor 38, therespective gear segment projection 432 will he located opposite one end'of the plunger. The plunger 430 is normally held out of engagement withthe projection 432 `by means of its spring which is indicated at 434,1*1ig. 'Z'. To actuate theplungen430, a bell-crank lever 436 is pivoted at438 to the upper portionot the standard 46, the lowermost end ot' saidleverengaging the end` of the plunger 430 which is remote from thetransfer carrier, While the upper end of the bell-crank lever engages aninclined `cam face 440 at the reareXtremit-y of the Siideroa 414. n Y

When the unloading plunger 268 is actuated tov eject the heel from. theheel clamp in the unloading carrier 262,'the tread 'face Vof theheel,jwhich is directed Vtov-yard the transfer mechanism 36, isbronglitinto engagement with` the *presserV plate 336. As' the heel isheld between the unloadingplunger and the presser plate 336, itcontinues to advance -across thenlati'orm 32-and the tread facer thereoffinally engages` the posif tioning finger 388 whichyieldssniiicielntly4V vto permit a heel to be advancedv to a deiinite positionbetween the opened jaws.V ci the f associated gripper device. pi`n`422on the slide rod 414 engages the tail 426 on the respective latch 376,tripping the latch and releasing the gripper jaws so that they areclosed by; the force4 of `the spring 372 upon the opposite lateral edgesofthe'heel.

Thereupon, the

